“Hope of the world, thou Christ of great compassion,
Speak to our fearful hearts by conflict rent.
Save us, thy people, from consuming passion,
Who by our own false hopes and aims are spent.”
The poetry of Georgia Harkness offers a word of grace for us at the start of a new year. If the message of Christmas brings nothing else to us, it offers the hope that was wrapped in THE Christmas gift, the one from God, wrapped in swaddling cloths, wrapped in the life of Jesus.
“Hope of the world, God’s gift from highest heaven,
Bringing to hungry souls the bread of life,
Still let thy spirit unto us be given
To heal earth’s wounds and end her bitter strife.”
In many corners of the world, people would be hard pressed to find a word of hope – to believe the promise of peace – to see past their physical starving to find nourishment for a hungry soul.
“Hope of the world, afoot on dusty highways,
Showing to wandering souls the path of light;
Walk thou beside us lest the tempting byways
Lure us away from thee to endless night.”
Howzat for a new year’s resolution: to seek and to find the son of God walking beside us wherever our life-journeys take us.
"Hope of the world, who by thy cross didst save us
From death and dark despair, from sin and guilt;
We render back the love thy mercy gave us;
Take thou our lives, and use them as thou wilt.”
When we are troubled by the world, we know that God offers us strength and hope. When we see others who are troubled, God expects OUR active compassion. Let us be faithful.
When we wander away from the ways of God, our task is to find Christ walking with us, leading us to the better path. When we see others wandering aimlessly, God expects US to provide a better roadmap by the example of our own faithful lives. Let us be faithful.
When we are burdened by guilt, we need to seek forgiveness from those we may have offended and to remember our redemption offered from the cross. When others have offended us, God calls on us to “forgive those who trespass against us.” Let us be faithful.
Christ is the hope of the world. As this new year unfolds, let us be faithful to our Lord, offering active compassion and hope for the world.
Let our prayer be:
"Hope of the world, O Christ, o’er death victorious,
Who by this sign didst conquer grief and pain,
We would be faithful to the gospel glorious:
Thou art our Lord! Thou dost forever reign.”
Happy and blessed new year.
Rev Jack Lipphardt
No comments:
Post a Comment